Eating fresh

Today was grocery shopping day, one of my most favorite times of the week. I love strolling the aisles, taking the time to read labels and decide what product is the best choice for my diet. I am definitely a new product junkie and willing to try anything new. But mostly, I have been trying to eat as fresh as possible.

When I first started this journey, I let Lean Cuisine and my microwave cook for me. I didn't even eat any fresh fruit or vegetables, just Lean Cuisines and Weight Watchers Smart Ones frozen meals and entrees for lunch and dinner coupled with cereal and milk for breakfast. Sometimes I'd have canned light soup (the Weight Watchers endorsed Progresso). Once I figured out that I could use a couple small appliances and buy fresh ingredients to make tastier meals than frozen and canned ones, I was on a roll! I bought this new Crock Pot and this George Foreman grill. (The crock pot was very inexpensive but I paid a little more for George because it has removeable grill plates to make cleanup easier.) I live alone so I have no one to worry about when it comes to preparing meals that everyone will like. In the process I have been saving a ton of money along with time.

My Crock Pot is a lifesaver! I can put protein, seasonings, and root vegetables in it, go to work, and come home to a great meal. If I forget to thaw my protein, it's no problem; George can handle boneless/skinless chicken and fish whether it's frozen or not. And it always turns out delicious! Sometimes I just buy big bags of frozen boneless/skinless chicken thighs and take out one, as I need it, for a fast meal from the grill. Spices and Mrs. Dash are important and I've stocked my cabinet with many varieties to give my protein different flavors and kick.

Lately, tilapia and boneless/skinless chicken has been the only meat I've eaten. I decided to stop eating red meat and for recipes that call for it, I've been using TVP chunks or flakes, or even using imitation vegan meat analogs. I make a very filling taco soup in the Crock Pot using TVP and it always tastes so awesome. It's even better the next day because the flavor explodes and it's all I can do to keep from imersing my whole head in the bowl. Yet it's completely vegan and I don't miss the meat at all.

Now, I don't profess to be a vegan, but I do have familial cholesterol concerns so eating vegan sometimes really helps with reducing my cholesterol intake. I otherwise eat a low fat, reduced salt, reduced calorie diet. I do eat carbs by way of whole grains -- I really love Nature's Own Double Fiber Whole Wheat Bread. It has only 50 calories per slice and it's loaded with 5 grams of fiber. I also love Triscuit crackers -- the Rosemary Olive flavor is awesome.

For snacks I love to eat two Cuties, the little clementine mandarines, with a string cheese stick. Or, I'll have an apple with 1 tbs of Peanut Butter. If I want chips, I'll choose Baked Tostitos or a half-serving of regular fat, unsalted chips and dip them in homemade salsa mixed with a little non fat sour cream. These are low Points+ values snacks that work on the Weight Watchers program.  Actually, anything "works" on Weight Watchers, and that is exactly why I love it.  I can budget my points for big meals or not use them at all.  I haven't felt deprived since I started the program and I am kicking myself for not having started sooner.

Dinner is usually my grilled protein with a HUGE green salad. Fried, breaded foods with heavy sauces are out!  I love to experiment with different field greens, baby spinach, and spring mix. I usually top the salad with grape tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, and a little shredded carrot, though I keep forgetting to add fruit, which is silly because I absolutely LOVE fruit in my salads. I spray it Wish Bone Salad Spritzers (ranch vinaigratte is my favorite).

So going from a cheeseburger-pizza-greasy chinese food person to what I eat now is a huge change. I plan to eat like this for the rest of my life.

What about you, what are some of your favorite healthy meals?